American Water Offers Convenient Bill Payment and Assistance Options

Core Viewpoint - American Water is enhancing customer support by introducing a utility hardship assistance program and expanding payment options to help customers manage their water and wastewater bills more effectively [1][2]. Payment Options - Customers can now pay their bills online, in person, or by phone, with new options including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal through the MyWater portal [9]. - A $1.95 fee applies for credit card transactions in select states [9]. Assistance Programs - The American Water Charitable Foundation is launching the Keep Communities Flowing® Fund to assist eligible households with utility bills, providing $500,000 in grants to two non-profit organizations for program administration [5][8]. - The initiative aims to reduce barriers for families facing financial hardship and offers flexibility in choosing utility providers [6]. Implementation and Future Plans - The pilot program will be rolled out in stages across select counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with insights from the pilot expected to inform future scalable utility assistance programs [7]. Company Overview - American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., serving over 14 million people across 14 states and 18 military installations [11]. - The company has a history dating back to 1886 and focuses on providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services [11]. Charitable Foundation - The American Water Charitable Foundation has invested over $20 million since 2012 in grants and matching gifts to support eligible organizations in the communities served by American Water [13]. - The Foundation operates independently of American Water's state assistance programs and is funded by shareholders without impacting customer rates [13].